Posted By Pamela Polston on Fri, May 14, 2021 at 5:21 PM

Courtesy of Jessica Sipe

Jeremy Ayers in his studio

When is imitation not the sincerest form of flattery? When it's actually a rip-off.

Vermont potter Jeremy Ayers recently learned from an observant Instagram follower that a corporate behemoth appeared to have copied one of his designs. Clothing and home goods retailer Anthropologie was offering a mug that looked suspiciously like one Ayers has been making for the past decade.

It's a distinctive design — striped glaze, "accordion" shape. But Anthropologie's version had a crucial difference: "The handle sucks," Ayers wrote on his Facebook page. Indeed, any experienced potter — or frequent holder of mugs — could see that the semi-circular handle of the Anthropologie mug is not hand-friendly.

And, of course, there was another key difference: price. Anthropologie's mug was priced at $14.99, Ayers said. His mugs, thrown one at a time in the artisan's Waterbury studio, sell for $40 apiece.

Tags: Jeremy Ayers Pottery , pottery , artisans , Anthropologie , Web Only , Image

Posted By Dan Bolles on Mon, Dec 21, 2020 at 6:47 PM

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Luke Awtry ©️ Seven Days

Jay Wahl

On Monday, the Flynn announced the hiring of Jay Wahl as its new executive director. Wahl was previously the producing artistic director at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. He will replace interim executive director Charlie Smith, who has led the Flynn since January 31, 2020. Wahl will officially take over as the head of the nonprofit Burlington performing arts center on January 1.

Tags: Jay Wahl , Charlie Smith , Staige Davis , Web Only , Image

Posted By Dan Bolles on Fri, Mar 20, 2020 at 1:43 PM

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Margaret Grayson

The Flynn marquee

The Flynn has laid off six employees and furloughed six others, according to interim executive director Charlie Smith. In a phone call Friday with Seven Days, Smith said "many of those" employees have an estimated return-to-work date, though he cautioned that Flynn administrators "don't have a clearer crystal ball than anyone else" and couldn't speculate when that date might be. 

On Friday, March 13, in response to concern over the spread of COVID-19, the Flynn canceled the remainder of its 2019-20 season, including all shows and programming through May 31.

"We hope and expect that these aren't permanent changes, though in some cases they are," he said. "We're just doing our best to prepare the Flynn to come back strong when we're able to."

Tags: Charlie Smith , the Flynn , Burlington Discover Jazz Festival , Web Only , Image

Posted By Dan Bolles on Fri, Jan 24, 2020 at 1:11 PM

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Diane Sullivan

Flynn Center for the Performing Arts

On Thursday, the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts announced the hiring of Burlington's Charlie Smith as the organization's interim executive director. The announcement comes one week after current executive director Anna Marie Gewirtz announced she was stepping down from her position for family reasons.

Smith officially takes the helm on January 31 and will stay on until the search for a permanent executive director is completed. Gewirtz will remain involved with the Flynn Center in a consulting role during that period.

Tags: Charlie Smith , Anna Marie Gewirtz , Staige Davis , Web Only , Image

Posted By Jordan Adams on Tue, Oct 16, 2018 at 9:10 PM

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Jordan Adams

Target storefront

Dreams do come true.

Finally, after months of anxious waiting, certain Vermonters were blessed with a preview of the new Target store at the University Mall in South Burlington. On Tuesday evening, a select group of media personalities and other individuals — let's call them "the Chosen Ones" — were invited to attend a special friends-and-family early-access event to bask in the glory of all that is Target.

Tags: Target , South Burlington , University Mall , shopping , Image , Web Only

Posted By Amy Lilly on Tue, Feb 6, 2018 at 10:47 AM

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Courtesy of Vermont Symphony Orchestra

Vermont Symphony Orchestra

On January 25, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra voted to unionize. The Boston Musicians Association, which is the Boston local of the American Federation of Musicians, will represent the orchestra. In negotiations, the VSO will be collaboratively represented by BMA and the Greater Springfield, Berkshire County and Vermont Musicians Association — the geographically nearest AFM local, in Springfield, Mass.

Tags: Vermont Symphony Orchestra , Ben Cadwallader , Guster , Boston Musicians Association , Image , Web Only

Posted By Sadie Williams on Fri, Jan 26, 2018 at 1:47 PM

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Sadie Williams

ReSOURCE Building Supply in Burlington's South End

Changes are afoot for ReSOURCE stores in Burlington. Last week, we reported that the ReSOURCE Household Goods store in the Soda Plant would be leaving at the end of February. But that news focused primarily on how the Soda Plant space would be transformed after the organization's departure: Owner Steve Conant will turn the 17,000-square-foot quarters into below-market-rate studios and spaces for creative entrepreneurs.

So, where is ReSOURCE going? What's happening to the remaining building supply store at 339 Pine Street? And what are locals who rely on the low-cost home-furnishings venue to do? ReSOURCE executive director Tom Longstreth answers some of those questions.

Tags: ReSOURCE , Burlington , household goods , Image , Web Only

Posted By Sally Pollak on Sun, Jan 21, 2018 at 11:53 AM

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SALLY POLLAK

Lena Jacobs (left) and Lucy Scott serve soup at Study Hall in Burlington

The other night at Study Hall Collective, a coworking space on College Street in Burlington, about 55 people gathered for an event called Soup. For $5, we each got a bowl of  minestrone soup thick with greens, veggies, pasta and turkey, served with slices of baguette.

For our money,  we also got treated to standup entertainment that was interesting, informative and original. This came in the form of pitches — four of them — presented by people who had conceived of projects and were hoping to fund them with a little cash. Soup money.

Tags: Middlebury College , Study Hall , Soup , Burlington , entrepreneurs , coworking space , start-ups , Image , Web Only

Posted By Sadie Williams on Thu, Jan 18, 2018 at 5:52 PM

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Sadie Williams

ReSOURCE storefront in Burlington

On Wednesday, second-hand store and reuse facility ReSOURCE announced that part of its business is leaving Burlington. ReSOURCE Household Goods has been located in the Soda Plant at 266 Pine Street for 22 years. In February, when its lease is terminated, the nonprofit will move to 326 Harvest Lane in Williston.  

What will take its place? A number of new incubator spaces for small, business-minded artisans and makers, according to Steve Conant.

Tags: Steve Conant , ReSOURCE , Soda Plant , South End , Burlington , South End Arts District , incubator space , Image , Web Only

Posted By Dan Bolles on Tue, Dec 19, 2017 at 3:57 PM

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Courtesy of 'Take Magazine'

'Take Magazine'

Take Magazine is calling it quits. In a December 15 post on its website, the arts and culture mag announced that it would cease publishing online content by the end of the year and publish one last physical issue in early 2018.

The reason for the abrupt closure should come as little surprise to anyone familiar with the modern print media landscape: declining revenue.

"We just didn't didn't get the traction, particularly with advertisers," Take publisher Michael Kusek told Seven Days. "And with readers."

Tags: Take Magazine , Michael Kusek , publishing , magazines , Image , Web Only